Makaylin Shoop to Compete at IHSA Nationals Thursday
TOWSON, Md. - Goucher College equestrian junior Makaylin Shoop (Davidsonville, Md./South River) will compete at IHSA Nationals on Thursday, May 5 in the limit fences competition. Shoop earned her spot at nationals by finishing as the Limit Fences Reserve Champion at the IHSA Zone IV Championship on Saturday, April 9. This year's nationals event is being held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Competing at nationals means competing for something bigger than myself, I am competing to represent my school and our program. I am grateful for this opportunity, and to be able to display many years of hard work and passion for the sport," said Shoop. "It is extremely rewarding to stand amongst the 16 best riders, in my division, in the country. I hope to perform in a way that makes my coaches and teammates proud, as I am proud to be a part of such a talented and supportive team."
"With over 400 colleges and universities competing in the IHSA, making it to the national championships is a major accomplishment," said Goucher Director of Equestrian and head coach Jennifer Smith. "Mak is such a delight to teach. She is so coachable, and a fiercely hard worker. I can't wait to watch her show off what she can do in that ring."
Shoop is Goucher's first Nationals qualifier since 2019, the last time the event was held. Both Cherise Madrid and Wren Wakeman qualified that year, with Madrid earning the individual Walk Trot national championship. The Gophers have had a total of four national champions and three reserve national champions in program history.